Fourth-rounder Mengden signs with home-town team

The Astros held another press conference for a high draft pick on Friday. No, it wasn’t to introduce first overall pick Brady Aiken, but a Houston native and Texas A&M product whom the Astros still took very high, fourth-rounder Daniel Mengden. A 21-year-old junior pitcher, Mengden went to Westside High School, and he’s seen his share of Astros games.

Being drafted by the Astros gives Daniel Mengden a chance at pitching in a familiar stadium one day, considering all the games he took in at Minute Maid Park when he wasn’t starring at Westside High School. (For the Chronicle / Thomas B. Shea)

“I was just really nervous,” an excited Mengden said of draft day. “In my head I was like, Astros? … Out of all the teams, you never think you’d get drafted by the hometown team.”

The 6-1, 210-pound righthander pitched for Team USA last summer.

A stress fracture in his back caused Mengden’s velocity to dip this spring, but he nonetheless has a power arm and was Texas A&M’s Friday starter this season, striking out 95 in 103 2/3 innings.

The fracture will have him sidelined this season, although he was pitching through the injury previously. The Astros hope Mengden can participate in the fall instructional league.

“First couple weeks it’s pretty painful,” Mengden said. “After that it kind of died down a little bit with the rehab we’re doing at Texas A&M with our training staff.”

The Astros have signed 35 of their 41 picks. Astros scouting director Mike Elias detailed progress with some of those who haven’t signed, including the team’s top two picks at Nos. 1 and 37.

Elias said his first overall selection, Aiken, could be introduced this homestand, but didn’t make it sound probable.

“It’s possible that it could,” Elias said. “I wouldn’t say that I expect it to happen then. We’re still working on that and those are long, complex talks usually with picks that are that high, especially a high school player.”

The Astros’ 37th overall pick, outfielder Derek Fisher, is more likely to sign this homestand.

“I think it’s possible,” Elias said.

Fifth round high school pitcher Jacob Nix (a UCLA commit) isn’t about to sign, it seems. Neither is 21st rounder Mac Marshall (LSU), another high school pitcher.

“I don’t see it going down to the wire to speak,” Elias said of Nix. “But it’s not something that I think is imminent.

“I’m still talking to Mac Marshall and hopeful that we can potentially convince him to turn pro, but that’s going to be a tough one. He was a little later pick and he’s got a very well known, strong commitment that to this point he intends on honoring.”

Elias said he’s not having ongoing conversations with Marshall, but that the lines were open.

“It’s certainly something that maybe as the deadline nears will intensify,” Elias said.